Who are the best remaining free agents in the NBA?
The NBA offseason is officially underway and there have already been some major shake ups with plenty more to come as the free agent market heats up.
We are a couple weeks removed from the Boston Celtics winning their record setting 18th NBA title in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but for teams around the league it’s never too early to start thinking about next season. Free agency officially opened on June 30th, and we have already seen some massive deals go down, but there are still plenty of players on the market.
Some of the market’s top players had already signed deals with their team even before the market opened yesterday evening. That is because of the new rule that the NBA put into affect this year that allows a team to begin negotiations with a player that was on the teams that same season. Both the Lakers and the Clippers used the new rule to keep D’Angelo Russell and James Harden in Los Angeles.
Since the free agency opened to everyone around the league on June 30th, there have been some seismic shifts in the NBA. Paul George is headed to Philly, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is going to Orlando and Derick Jones Jr. is headed to LA to play with the Clippers.
There are still plenty of stars who could be on the move, while others are likely to stay put. Here is a list of the best available free agents, restricted and unrestricted.
DeRozan DeRozan, SF, Chicago Bulls (unrestricted)
DeRozan just finished his third year with the Bulls, and may be looking for a way out of Chicago. He is 34 years old and may have his final contract of his career coming in this free agency period. The Bulls seem to be moving on from underachieving base of players that they tried to build a team with. Alex Caruso is in OKC, and they could be looking to move on from Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball at some point. DeRozan can still post big numbers. He averaged 24 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season.
LeBron James, F, LA Lakers (player option)
The league’s all-time leading scorer opted out of his final year with the Lakers, but it doesn’t look like he is heading anywhere. After a few years of waiting for his son, Bronny, to be eligible for the draft the Lakers took LeBron’s oldest son with the 55th pick of the Draft. LeBron opted out of his contract to most likely take a contract that will open up some cap space for the franchise to bring in guys that will make this team a contender in the Western Conference. Last year James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists and proved that at 39 years old he is still one of the top players in the league.
Tyrese Maxey, PG, Philadelphia 76ers (restricted)
We saw just how good Maxey can be when the Sixers MVP center Joel Embiid went down with an injury that kept him out for the last few months of the regular season. It may not have been enough to keep the Sixers at the top of the East, but Maxey is a star in this league, and with his rookie contract coming to an end he is on the verge of cashing in. The Sixers know how important Maxey is, and what a star he is going to become, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Philly makes him an offer he can’t refuse as they continue to purse a long awaited title in the City of Brotherly Love. Last year Maxey averaged 25.9 points, 3.7 rebound and 6.2 assists as he carried the Sixers until Embiid was able to return for the post season. If he signs with the Sixers, he will be rejoined with Joel Embiid and Philly’s newest star, Paul George.
Isaiah Hartenstein, C, New York Knicks (unrestricted)
The big man who made a name for himself in the playoffs on the national stage did himself a big favor by proving his value before entering the free agent market. In his seventh year in the league, he proved that he can be a starting center in the NBA and had his most productive year from the field, shooting 64.4% and on the board, averaging career high 8.3 rebounds a game. He was a big part of the Knicks playoff run, but it remains to be seen if he stays at Madison Square Garden or if he opts to sign a big contact outside of the Big Apple
Klay Thompson, SG, Golden State Warriors (unrestricted)
The Golden State Warriors dynasty may or may not be in it’s final days, but one thing looks certain. Klay Thompson’s days in the Bay look numbered. After winning four NBA titles with the franchise that drafted him 13 years ago, it seems like the second Splash Brother is going to be looking for a new home. After recovering from a couple of career threatening injuries, Thompson returned but understandably never returned to his top level. He had to adjust to his new role as Steve Kerr brought him off the bench for much of the second end of the season. After averaging a 17.9 points, 3.3 rebound and 2.3 assists while shooting 38.7% from three, Thompson reportedly unfollowed the Golden State Warriors after their season came to a disappointing close in the Play-In Tournament. It’s looking more and more like Klay’s future is outside of the Chase Center.
Other notable free agents
Tobias Harris, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (unrestricted)
Tyus Jones, PG, Washington Wizards (unrestricted)
Miles Bridges, SF, Charlotte Hornets (unrestricted)
Nicolas Claxton, C, Brooklyn Nets (unrestricted)
Markelle Fultz, PG, Orlando Magic (unrestricted)